ఫిషరీస్ & పశువుల ఉత్పత్తి

నైరూప్య

Shark and Shark Products Trade Channel and its Conservation Aspects in Bangladesh

Md. Monjurul Hasan, K. M. Shahriar Nazru, Mohammed Rashed Parvej, Md. Shamsul Alam Patwary and A. M. M. Borhan Uddin

This study was conducted in two major shark landing centers; BFDC fish harbor, Cox’s Bazar and Fishery Ghat fish landing center, Chittagong from January-December, 2014. Semi-structured interview, case study, frequent visit to the informants found in and between the trade channels were done for data collection. As there is no forms of gear size limitation or seasonal restriction in the existing fish act, most landed sharks were found to be smaller in size. Big sharks were found to be processed and dried in some enclosed building in the form of cottage while smaller sharks in Nazirertek fish drying area. Dried salted and iced sliced meat of shark and its sun-dried bones are sold to local consumers for consumption. Dried shark fins, skins, teeth are exported to different countries like Myanmar, India, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, China and USA. Bangladesh earned 0.09 crore taka by exporting 1 MT shark fin during 2012-2013. Although no shark products were exported from Bangladesh during 2010-11 to 2011-12 due to banning of shark catch and trade in several countries, different body parts of shark were smuggled to Myanmar from Cox’s Bazar illegally. All the activities cause a serious threat to shark biodiversity in the Bay of Bengal. Steps should be taken to save and conserve shark in our ecosystem through the inclusion of shark in the fish act restricting indiscriminate killing, establishing shark sanctuary, smuggling of shark and its product and improving the trades of shark products.